Marten triggers brief blackout in Germany's Rheingau region

A curious marten's fatal mistake plunged towns into darkness—just for seconds. Now, crews are racing to prevent the next unexpected blackout.

, and Administrator

2026 April 19 . 10:06 PM

1 min read

The image shows an electrical substation in the middle of a grassy field, surrounded by a fence and... — The image shows an electrical substation in the middle of a grassy field, surrounded by a fence and a tower on the right side. In the background, there are trees and a clear blue sky.

Marten triggers brief blackout in Germany's Rheingau region

Bad Schwalbach(our platform)

Sunday, September 21, 2025, 9:00 PM – Rheingau-Taunus district, including Eltville, Erbach, Walluf, and Schlangenbad

A short circuit at a substation in Eltville caused a brief power outage on Sunday evening. Reports indicate that the city of Eltville and its Erbach district, as well as the municipalities of Walluf and Schlangenbad, were affected. Power was restored within seconds. According to the energy provider, a marten is believed to have triggered the short circuit. The extent of the damage at the substation remains unclear.

For inquiries, please contact:

Wiesbaden Police Headquarters (West Hesse Division) Konrad-Adenauer-Ring 51 65187 Wiesbaden Duty Officer Phone: +49 (0)6124 7078-0 Email: [email protected]